Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-02-03
Their, Origin Unknown-Queer Habits and
Customs Scenes at Their Mid
night Orgies.

general term OF the 'DenneWaterS.
No prescribed caste in India was ever
more thoroughly set apart from its fell
lows than are these people. Whence
81 why they came has often been made
matter of surprise. but has never adj
RANGED beyond speculation. In APP
pearance they convey the impression of
being descended from the red man. hay
ING in the majority of cases the high
.heek-bones, black hair and swarthy
skin which are characteristic of his
race. They are, moreover, never met
m groups abreast, but always walk in
Indian file and in this order may be
met any day walking to and from their
bones to Kingston As opposed to
this theory, however, it may be men,
!ioncd that in no case do their names
betray Indian origin. They have been
20 long isolated that, though they I'M
ioubtedly possess certain points of re-
Gemblance in common, they would
hardly be claimed even as remote kim
ired to any known tribe of Indians.
In some respects they more nearly re-
semble the gypsies, though they are
not so nomadic. and many incline to
the belief that they are descendants of
tome foreign gypsy tribe.
TOO LAZY TO WORK.
Like Indians and gypsies they show
acep-rooted and ineradicable distase for
active labor. and it is probable that the
comparative case with which life can be
sustained in the neighborhood of good
fishing ground first attracted them to
The Bennewater Lakes. They never ac-
quiro property, and possess no animals
except certain woltish-ooking dogs 1t
Is rare TO see "Bennewater" unat-
tended by one of these ill-fed and hun
gry-looking beasts Unlike the Indians,
they have no taste for fighting, and
during the late war were notorious
"bounty jumpers deserving almost
without exception as soon as they re-
ceved the bounty. This region and the
Shawangunk Mountains became in con-
sequence vcritable city of refuge for
deserters and other criminals, and raids
were perpetually made at that time by
the authorities on the "Bennewaters,
who, it was we'll known, freely offered
sanctuary to all offenders against the
law, even when not of their race. 1t
will be remembered that on the occa-
sion of the abduction of Charley Ross,
in consequence of its being believed
that he had been taken across the river
at Rondout at midnight in small boat,
the whole district of the Bennewater
Lakes was submitted to thorough
search by Pinkerton's detectives, in the
belief that the stolen child would be
found secreted with these people. AL
though the search, so far rs Charley
Ross was concerned, proved frutless.
evidences which led to the elucidation
of other mysterious crimes were discov-
cred.
FOND OF DRINKING.
Though not communicative to stran-
gers, they are not surly. neither are
they quarrelsome, except when they
yield to Their craving for drink. In
summer they devote themselves to ber-
~ gathering and the supplying of bait
to the anglers who visit the lakes.
Their knowledge of the arts and in
dustrcs is extremely | mited, being con-
fined TO the making OF coarse baskets
aud mats of straw and corn-husks
which they peddle in this city and the
neghborhood with an importantly that
is only cqualed by their persistency in
begging. Certain rude attempts are
occasionally made at wood carving,
hut these are generally the results oil
Instructions received during a residence
in penitentiaries. These visits are by
no means infreqHent, but are rarely
for crimes of serious nature. A
weakness for petty larceny clings tc
the Bennewaters for life. When b,
chance any one of them meets with al
unusual amount of good fortune he il
not backwards in sharing the fruits o.
it with his fellows? On fine evenings
when these occasions happen, the whole
fraternity gathers ont of doors rount
large bonfire, when over feast o
roasted corn and stolen chickens
washed down by liberal potations of tn
rawcst whisky, they present in the ear
ly hours, with the effecting setting of
dark background of woods and hill
and the glow of the flaming fire rt
Elected in the lake, a highly pictul
esque and gypsy-like scene. Thes
gatherings generally degenerate int
orgies of the worst description, tn
scenes enacted being worthy of til
witches reyel on Walpurgis Night.
THE CHIEF OF THE TRIBE.
The chief person at these feast
whose word then and on all other o
casions is all powerful is man of u
usually large stature and weight al
of commanding will, who represen
in his person al the law and COVER
ment which exist among them. III
use of soap and water appears u
known, while their dress is Of the poe
est description, shoes and stockin
being rarities, and even to this day 81
d!ers' overcoats used during the WI
in the last stages of decay, may
seen. But despite their rags and d
they vie with the savage in their 10
for gay colors and for ornaments OF
tawdry and striking kind.
Taken collectively, they are the
verse of well favored, though occasiC
ally a young girl may be met possessi
singular beauty. but this rarely la
beyond youth.
Their houses, which are the IN
miserable of shanties, are almost
tircly devoid OF furniture. They h,
no stoves. and their whole mode of
Is as wretched and debased as can
found within the limits OF the worl
. civilization. The house consists ust
~ Of one room. in which whole ia
~ and visitors live and sleep,